Moose fatally stabbed in Alaska park; 3 men arrested

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – Three men have been accused of stabbing a young moose to death at a park in Alaska’s largest city, and police said witnesses reported seeing the men punching the animal and walking away.

The men were arraigned Wednesday in the death of the yearling moose near a bike trail in Anchorage’s Russian Jack Springs Park.

All three were arrested on charges of animal cruelty, wanton waste of big game and tampering with evidence.

The suspects, Johnathan Candelario, 25, James Galloway, 28, and Nick Johnston, 33, were handed charges Wednesday in an Anchorage courtroom.

A local charity recovered the remains of the moose to salvage the meat, police spokeswoman Anita Shell said.

Moose are a common sight in Anchorage, and on rare occasions have charged at humans. The massive animals, however, generally coexist peacefully with humans and their pets.

Shell said she could not recall a moose attacked in the same way in her 25 years with the department.

“Certainly, people have defended themselves against moose if they’re being trampled,” Shell said. “But I’ve never seen anything like this.”